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regular-article-logo Tuesday, 30 April 2024

Delhi court summons Brij Bhushan, says enough evidence present to proceed with case

In April, seven female wrestlers, including a minor, had filed separate complaints of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation against Singh

Imran Ahmed Siddiqui New Delhi Published 08.07.23, 09:45 AM
Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh File picture

A Delhi court on Friday summoned BJP parliamentarian and outgoing Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh after taking cognisance of the chargesheet filed against him by Delhi police for alleged sexual harassment, assault and stalking of six adult women wrestlers.

The Rouse Avenue Court directed Singh to appear before it on July 18 and said there was enough evidence against him to proceed with the case.

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In April, seven female wrestlers, including a minor, had filed separate complaints of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation against Singh.

Another trial court in Delhi on Tuesday sought a response from the minor wrestler and her father on the final report filed by the Delhi police, recommending cancellation of the Pocso (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) case against Singh for alleged sexual harassment.

The Pocso case, based on a now-withdrawn complaint from the minor wrestler and her father, entails a fast-tracked trial and a prison term of up to seven years in conviction.

On June 15, the Delhi police had filed a chargesheet before a trial court in a sexual harassment case involving six women wrestlers against Singh but recommended the cancellation of the Pocso case against him, citing “no corroborative evidence”.

The minor wrestler’s statement was first recorded before a magistrate in the first week of May, in which she alleged sexual assault by Singh. In June, her father withdrew the complaint saying it was false and had been filed in anger at Singh for discriminating against his daughter.

However, a newspaper later quoted the father as saying he had been threatened by people whose names he could not reveal and that his family was “living in intense fear”.

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